BOARD DATE: 11 May 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090018947 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM). 2. The applicant states during his tour in Iraq his chain of command tried, but failed, to have the award processed before he separated from the service. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 8 June 2004. He served 4 years, 4 months, and 16 days and was released from active duty on 23 October 2008. 2. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 lists the following awards: * Army Commendation Medal * Army Achievement Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Afghanistan Campaign Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal * Iraq Campaign Medal Campaign Star * Army Service Ribbon * Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award) * North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal * Combat Infantryman Badge * Parachutist Badge 3. The applicant's records show the following: a. permanent orders for an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), for the period 7 January 2005 through 23 October 2008, while assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. b. he served in Afghanistan from 10 April 2005 through 10 April 2006. c. he served in Iraq from 1 June 2007 through 21 July 2008. d. he was promoted from specialist to sergeant effective 1 October 2007 by Permanent Order 262-31, dated 19 September 2007. e. no derogatory information or statement of AGCM disqualification. 4. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency, and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service. After 27 June 1950, to the present time, the current standard for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal is 3 years of qualifying service, but as little as 1 year is required for the first award in those cases when the period of service ends with the termination of active enlisted Federal military service. Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Army Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified. 5. MILPER message number 08-123 (Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal Campaign Stars) outlines the criteria for the award and wear of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. One bronze service star shall be worn on the ACM for one or more days of participation in each designated campaign phase. The applicant served in Afghanistan from18 February 2006 through 1 February 2007 during the Consolidation Campaign Phase 1. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's request was carefully considered and there is sufficient evidence to grant relief. 2. There is no evidence in the applicant's record that indicate he was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the AGCM. His records contain no evidence of court-martial action, non-judicial punishment, or time lost. Also, he received an ARCOM for meritorious service and he was promoted to sergeant. 3. In the absence of evidence showing disqualification, it is appropriate to award the applicant the AGCM based on completion of qualifying service from 8 June 2004 through 7 June 2007 and add it to his DD Form 214. 4. The applicant served in Afghanistan from18 February 2006 through 1 February 2007 during the Consolidation Campaign Phase 1. He is authorized award of a bronze service star to be affixed to his previously-awarded Afghanistan Campaign Medal. BOARD VOTE: ___x_____ ___x_____ ___x__ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period from 8 June 2004 through 7 June 2007 * correcting his DD Form 214 to show award of AGCM (1st Award) * awarding him a bronze service star to be affixed to his previously-awarded Afghanistan Campaign Medal * providing him a document to show the correction _______ _ x_______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090018947 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090018947 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1